Welcome to my Refresh with Dawn Herring blog where you can check out the transcripts to previous #JournalChat Live and Links Edition! You can also check out my Refresh Daily blog here: http://www.dawnherring.net/refresh-daily-blog

Welcome to Refresh with Dawn Herring!

Welcome to Refresh with Dawn Herring blog. I'm so glad you stopped by to peruse the transcripts from #JournalChat Live and Links Edition.

You're also welcome to join our #JournalChat Live Facebook Group where we share quality journal keeping content for your journaling practice!

Have a fab day and don't forget to refresh yourself!

Be refreshed,

Dawn Herring

Refresh with Dawn Herrng

Host of #JournalChat Live on social media

Thursday, September 4, 2014

#JournalChat Live Facebook Group Event: Part II Day Two of Your Journaling: Just Say Yes! with Special Guests, Sue Ekins, Beth Terrence and Jennifer Morris

Jen shares:I think that is why I became so 'lost' over the past 10 years of my life - when I was a teenager I used to journal a lot, and I seemed to know myself quite well. Then throughout my 20s I got so busy trying to figure out my career, find a partner etc that I lost touch with myself. Since journaling again I have to come to reconnect with myself - to develop a relationship with the most important person in my life! It's been like catching up with a friend I haven't seen for years - turns out I've known her all along, she's just been waiting to be heard!

Jen shares: I find I am probably most present when playing in my art journal. It could be because it is more tactile and visual - but I am usually quite engrossed in my art journal and the process. I tend to get into a state of 'flow' (Mihály Csíkszentmihályi) very easily in my art journal. This can sometimes happen in my written journal, but for some reason the abstractness of playing with paint etc allows me to detach from everything else and just play. Whereas in my written journal, I think the use of words and using sentences is more left-brain, logical. We tend to stick to the structures of grammar and language and write with a 'point' - whereas art journaling breaks away from all of that.

I want to say that I would highly recommend art journaling to help with being present. What Jen shared about her art journaling experience I can relate to. You don't have to be an "artist" per se to keep one. Using paper and text and images like collage can be a great start. I can't tell you how much fun and free it can be to express yourself outside the typical journal entry. I do both. They are the perfect complements!

Jen shares: Another reason I like the idea of the present moment is because I've often put off doing things - following goals/dreams, starting projects, etc until 'someday'. It's only been more recently as I've been regularly journaling that I've come to find the courage to take creative risks and do it - I've come to realise that the only time we have is now! If I don't do the things I want to do now, then I am not doing them at all, and they exist merely as fantasies. This ties back to what Julia Cameron said in The Artist's Way about how we can only write about something so many times before we take action. That is SO true.

Jen MorYes Sue I think you should do it with the book. You will probably find a facebook group that is doing it, or you could create a meetup on meetup.com in your local area for people who want to do it, and just use the book to guide you. It's fantastic. So worth it.

Jen MorWe should start a facebook group for people working through The Artist's Way. I know at least two other people who would be keen, and I'm sure many others would join too. If there isn't already one, might be a great community for people.

Jen MorIt is quite big though, so we may want to start a smaller group with like 10 or so people, will depend on what sort of group you want. We could create a group that works through it all together at the same time.

Jen's post reminded me of some of the times when I didn't appreciate what was going on at the time. An example is way back in high school, I remember saying, "If these are the best years of my life, I'd hate to see the worst." But really, they were good years. We never know how long we have with our parents, etc., so it is good to appreciate what's good now. Journaling can help us do that.

Jen MorThis is so true! There's this line from The Office that I love - Andy says, 'I wish there was a way to know you're in the good old days before you've actually left them.' It's easy to take our present moment for granted, then look back fondly! I think journaling helps us to see what's good about our days before they become the good OLD days.

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Your Life Refreshed!

Activate Your Creative Center with Dawn Herring as your Creative Consultant. Enhance your life with refreshing engagement that honors Who You Are. Dawn offers several options to get you started. See link for details: http://www.dawnherring.net/your-life-refreshed.html

About Me

Dawn is a watercolor and collage artist, writer, Host of #JournalChat Live and Creative and Social Media Consultant. She enjoys sharing insights, humor, and encouragement as she shares from her life experiences. She enjoys keeping a journal and reading spiritual texts to help keep the light on. Hope you enjoy perusing the blog posts and in the process, get to know her a bit better. Enjoy your stay!

Dawn's #JournalChat Favorite

Dawn's #JournalChat Favorites are always featured in your next issue of Refresh Journal, plus announcements for our next #JournalChat Live Event in case you miss my announcement on Twitter or Facebook so you don't have to be concerned about missing out!

I look forward to chatting with you about journaling; come join us!!

My eBook: The Birthday Wall: Create a Collage to Celebrate Your Child

I'm so excited to share with you my new ebook, The Birthday Wall: Create a Collage to Celebrate Your Child.

The Birthday Wall is a detailed, step-by-step instructional book that shows how to create a multi-dimensional, colorful visual collage to help celebrate your child's Birthday. As creator of this family tradition, Dawn Herring shares how to research, plan, gather, create and display all the elements of your child's birthday wall which can help affirm, validate, and show appreciation for your child.